Sampling apparatus, more particularly for use in vessels under pressure



Dec. 5, 1950 ROGERS 2,532,946

SAMPLING APPARATUS, MORE PARTICULARLY FOR USE IN VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE v Filed June 2, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 5, 1950 F. H. ROGERS 2,532,946

SAMPLING APPARATUS, MORE PARTICULARLY FOR USE IN VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 2, 1949 F. SAMPLING APPARATUS H. ROGERS 2,532,946

MORE PARTICULARLY FOR USE IN VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE Dec. 5, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 2, 1949 MM M Patented Dec. 5, 1950 SAMPLING APPARATUS, MORE PARTICU- LARLY FOR USE IN VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE Francis Heron Rogers, Kenley, England Application June 2, 1949, Serial No. 96,635 In Great Britain June 8, 1948 8 Claims. (Cl. 73423) This invention relates to improvements in sampling apparatus more particularly for use in vessels under pressure and has for its object means to withdraw a substantial and indicative sample of the material whilst .under treatment from the interior of a closed vessel without the necessity of breaking the vacuum or reducing pressure Within the vessel. In many manufacing processes it is very desirable, if not essential, to ascertain at any given time the condition of the material under treatment, in any closed vessel and this is particularly the case in relation to processes involving chemical or physical change in the material itself, particularly when brought about in the presence or absence of pressure, i. e. as With steam vacuum or liquid or gaseous reagents.

The invention finds particular application in plant or vessels used for the heat treatment with steam or water or dehydration of materials such as cereal grains, starch, grits, vegetable or mineral oils and the like, which is carried out in large vessels in which any loss of vacuum or stoppage of pressure to extract a sample might affect the product being processed and lose time. A further object of the invention is to obtain the sample of vessel content quickly, and in a container which can itself constitute a part of a testing apparatus. Thus the sample container itself can constitute the magazine of an electrical moisture meter or the vessel used for applying a test for specific gravity, or volume density determination,

The invention consists in an improved valve for extracting samples of material during treatment from closed vessels, comprising in combination: a cylindrical casing having at least one opening formed in one end portion thereof to provide a communicating passage from the exterior of said casing to the interior thereof; a sleeve mounted within said casing and axially slidable therein from the other end thereof to close said communicating passage on axial movement in one direction and open said passage on axial movement in the other direction; a further sleeve mounted within the first said sleeve and formed with a closure wall at the end thereof remote from said passage; means on the first said sleeve and said further sleeve for releasably securing said sleeves against relative axial movement; and valve means in the end wall of said further sleeve operable at will to open or close the interior of said further sleeve to atmosphere.

The invention further comprises means for locking the sleeves within the casing or of giving' movement thereto as a whole or of moving the inner sleeve independently of the main sleeve and of breaking the vacuum or releasing the pressure within the main sleeve whilst extracting the inner sleeve.

In the form of the invention as applied to vessels under vacuum a resilient platform is provided to obviate crushing of the sample during collection, and which also serves to facilitate election or recovery of the sample after extraction of the inner sleeve.

The invention in its essentials comprises three main co-operating parts:

(1) An outer cylindrical casing passing through the wall or walls of the treatment vessel and secured fast to said vessel, part of the innermost length of the cylinder wall being perforated and the end of said cylinder within the vessel being closed with a cap.

(2) An inner sliding sleeve within the whole length of said casing and protruding externally of the vessel and normally closed at its outer end and provided with means for movement at will axial of the said casing, said sleeve being circumferentially packed internally oi the casing and adapted to close or open the perforations of said casing and in the latter case to allow material to enter the interior of the device, and

(3) An innermost tubular sleeve herein called a container also closed at its outer external end with a cap detachably secured to the sleeve, slidable simultaneously with the inner sleeve and adapted to receive the material under treatment as a sample and also capable of complete withdrawal from the whole device with means associated with said container for breaking any vacuum or releasing pressure within the sampling valve prior to withdrawing a sample.

In some cases the inner tube carries an internal tubular vessel which may be of glass, for colour or other observation, or made of Ebonite or plastic insulating material with a base contact for direct insertion in electric moisture testing machines.

In order that the invention shall be more fully understood reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred forms of the invention are illustrated and particularly described and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the valve fitted to a jacketed vessel for treatment of material under vacuum,

Fig. 2 is a plan of that part of the valve external of the vacuum vessel,

Fig. 3 is a part sectional elevation of Fig. l on line A-A,

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation as Fig. 3 but with the casing ports open for admission of the material constituting the to be taken,

Fig. is an enlarged View of the vacuum break valve,

Fig. 6 is a part elevation of the invention when adapted to withdraw samples from a vessel with a pressure above atmosphere,

Fig. '7 is a sectional elevation of Fig. 6 showing the valve in the normal closed position,

Fig. 8 is a part sectional elevation of Fig. 6 showing the ports open to receive the material to be taken as sample.

Referring to the drawings and to Figs. 1 to 5 the casing or body of the valve 1 constitutes a cylinder 2 closed at one end by the threaded cap 3 and provided at the other end with a flange which is bolted to a suitable pad 5 formed or applied to the external wall of the vacuum vessel 6. Between the flange i and the pad 5 is a packing washer l to ensure that the joint is pressure ti ht.-

' The flange is formed with hinge lugs 8 on one side and lugs 9 carrying a quadrant ill on the other.

Pivotally mounted on the hinge lugs B by the hinge pin H, is a link I: which at its other end carries pin l3 on which is pivotally mounted the two. side prongs l4 and {5 of a forked composite lever C, said lever C terminating in the handle 16, see Fig. 2. A distance piece II and bolt l8 secure the two sides M and of the composite lever together at the same time, leaving a space between the parts to accommodate the link l2. The handle it and the sides 94 and i5 are secured together by bolts i9.

Pivoted at on the arm 2| adjacent the handle I6 is mounted a further lever 22 which operates the spring Controlled pawl 23 adapted to engage either of the notches 24 or 25 formed in the. quadrant l9, A stop pin 26 fast on the quadrant I9. prevents the lever from overrunning its limit of travel.

The two side parts of the lever are provided with trunnion bearing bosses 21.

The main sleeve 3! is adapted to slide withinthevalve body l within the limits determined by the notches 2d and 25 on the quadrant l9. The trunnions 32; formed on the main sleeve 3! are housed in the trunnion bearings 2'1 so that the arcuate movement of the lever imparts axial movement to the sleeve 3 i.

In that part of the wall of the valve casin which projects into the interior of the vacuum vessel 6 are formed two ports 33 and it is desirable when mounting the valve that the areas of; the ports 33- are disposed at right angles to the axis of rotation of the vessel, if the said vessel is rotatable.

When the main Sleeve 3: is pushed home within the cylinder 2 of the valve casing I (see Figs. 1 and 3) the ports 33 are sealed off. When the sleeve is withdrawn to its limit, see Fig. 4, the ports 33 are open to the interior of the valve.

The main sleeve Si is sealed in the cylinder 2 when closed by the U ring washer 34 retained in an annular groove 35 by the threaded cap 3, and by the U ring washer 36 retained in the annular groove 3? by the ring 38.

An inner sleeve 39 having a closed end 40 is adapted to fit loosely within the main sleeve 3| and is locked in this position by the assistance of lugs 4| which, whilst forming a bayonet locking devicein conjunction with the wedge shaped projections 42 on the main sleeve 31 also serve to provide means by which the inner sleeve 39 canbe gripped and rotated to remove or secure in position. A sealing joint is made between the main sleeve 3| and the closed end of the inner sleeve 39 by a rubber or like joint 43.

To properly center the inner sleeve 39 within the main sleeve 3i the inner sleeve 39 is made to the full diameter of the main sleeve 3! for a small portion of its length at 44 whereas for the rest of its length it is slightly smaller in diameter to allow of easy insertion or removal. Vent holes 45 are also provided to allow air to enter the interior rapidly whilst the inner sleeve 39 is being removed. Loosely fitting within the inner sleeve 39 is a piston 46, which may if necessary be perforated. The piston 46 is fast with the piston rod 4'! and is supported in its upper position by the spring 48. In the example shown the spring 48 is barrel shaped so that when compressed a large number of the coils can close within each other allowing the spring to close to a smaller length than would otherwise be the case.

The piston rod 47 passes, through the closed end 43 of the inner sleeve 39 and is sealed at this point by a hat washer 49 retained by the nut 59. External of the inner sleeve 3.9 is the hand knob 5| secured to the piston rod 4,! by the grub screw 52.

The piston rod 47 is bored at 53. and 54, has a conical valve seating at and is threaded at 56 (see Figs 4 and 5). A needle valve 51 is adapted to screw into the threaded portion 53 and close the bore 54 of the piston rod 41. on the valve seat 55. The needle valve 5! is bored and cross bored at, 5'8. and 59 and terminates in the hand knob 60. The latter device constitutes a vacuum break valve.

It is assumed that the vessel. 6, containing the, material to be sampled, is under vacuum and that the valve is in the position shown. in Figs. 1 and 3. It, is also assumed for the purpose of this description that the vessel Brotates The operation of this form of the invention is then as follows:

The rotation of the vessel 6.15, arrested whilst the, pawl 23 is disengaged from notch 24; of the quadrant ill. by depressing the lever 22. (Figs. 1 and 3). The lever C is then moved until they pawl 23 engages notch 25 and. the main sleeve 34- together with the inner sleeve 39; and its. attachments have been moved toj and lockedin: the position shown in Fig. 4. v

The length of the lever C is such as to. enable the operator to overcome the resistance offered by the vacuum.

The ports 33 in the cylinder wall; 2. are now. open to. the interior of the; valve and; the vessel; b is rotated once or twice to allow a sample of the material under treatmentto enter theports. 33v and so fill the inner sleeve: 3,9.

The rotation of the vesselL dais. now again arrested and the valve is closed. by.- the lever C causing the main sleeve 3! to, again seal on the ports 33.

During this. closing operation, some of the material being. sampled will have. been forced back into the vessel 6 butlundue compression and; perhaps deformation of the sample is avoided by the collapsing of. the spring; 48; under pressure; from the piston 45.

The valve will now have again. assumed the position shown in Fig. 3 but the piston- 49 will have been forced down to; the position shown- When the a ue. a i e.-v losed so. that; thepawl'23 again engages the notch 24 (Fig. 1)

the vacuum break needle valve 51 is unscrewed a few turns thereby removing the needl valve from off the seat 55 and allowing air to enter the interior of the inner sleeve 39 by way of bore 58, cross bore 59, bore 54 and cross bore 53. The air passes around the side of the loosely fitting piston 46 (or through perforations) and enters the upper portion of the inner sleeve 39 until atmospheric pressure obtains. By gripping the lugs 4| of the closed end 99, the inner sleeve 39 can be rotated sufficiently to disengage the lugs 4| from the projections 32 and the complete innor sleeve 39, together with its attachments, and containing the sample required can be withdrawn from the main sleeve 3| since the ports 33 are sealed by the said main sleeve 3|. 1

The inner sleeve 39 is emptied of the sample and replaced in the main sleeve 3| and again secured by the bayonet catch. The piston 33 is pushed back to its original position, if the spring 48 has not already done so, and the needle valve 51 again closed. The vessel 9 can now again be rotated until the next sample is required.

No means are provided to prevent the piston rod from rotating, and the knob 5! is therefore formed in such a manner that can be easily held against rotation when opening or closing the needle valve 5'! by knurling or fiuting as shown.

Figs. 6, '7 and 8 show a modified form of the sampling valve adapted to extract samples from a vessel under pressure.

The casing forming the cylinder 2 is provided with a flange 4 which is bolted to the pad 5 on the pressure vessel H.

The flange 4 is also provided with hinge lugs 8 and lugs 9 to which are fitted a lever mechanism similar to that described for the vacuum vessel with the exception that the lever locking device is nearest so that the pawl 72 acts to lock the lever C in the position shown in Figs. 6 and 8, and prevents the pressure within the vessel H from forcing the main sleeve 3| outwards to the closed position.

In this modification the ports 33 are formed in the main sleeve 3| instead of in the cylinder 2. The sleeve is fitted with a cap 73 which also forms a secondary sealing valve, when the sleeve is in the closed position, due to the iiange 73 of the cap 13 contacting the valve seat 15 formed by the chamfered rim of the cylinder 2. The efficiency of this secondary valve can be increased by the insertion of a sealing washer 92, of suitable material, in an annular groove formed in the flange 14 and the cap 13. The cap F3 also serves to lock in position the cup shaped sealing washer 19 which forms the main or primary seal when the valve is closed.

The main sleeve 3| is sealed in the casing by the U ring washer 16a and it will be observed that this U ring is reverse to the U ring washer 36 in Figs. 3 and 4.

The removable inner sleeve 39 is closed as at 40 the seal between the main sleeve 3| and this closed end 40 being eifected by the washer is.

The removable inner sleeve 39 is secured in the main sleeve 3| by a bridge piece 11 formed with catches 18 adapted to engage projections 19 formed on the main sleeve 3 The bridge piece Tl is threaded as at 80 and a clamping screw 8| adapted to engage th threads 80, fitted with wing nut 82, collar 93 and conical valve face 89 is loosely secured to the closed end 49 by the cap 85.

, The cap 85 is fixed tothe closed end 49 1 screws 83 and is slotted as at 81 to provide a duct from the interior of the cap to atmosphere. The closed end 39 of the inner sleeve 39 is provided with a gauze filter 98 and a hole 39 terminating in a conical valve seat 99. Abutments 9| are provided on the bridge piece ll to arrest downward movement of the inner sleeve 39 and closed end 40, when the clamping screw is loosened.

The operation of this modified form of the invention is as follows:

It is assumed that the vessel ii is rotating and under pressure and that the sampling valv is fitted to it so that the chamfered rim 15 of the cylinder 2 just enters the inner chamber of the vessel.

When a sample is required the rotation of the vessel is arrested and by means of the lever mechanism the main sleeve 3|, the inner sleeve 39 and the parts attached thereto are moved inwards of the vessel 1| until the pawl 22 engages the notch on the quadrant maintaining the device in the position shown in Figs. 6 and 8. The ports 33 are now open to the interior of the vessel 1| which is again rotated for one or two revolutions to ensure the inner sleeve 39 being filled by a sample of the material being treated.

Rotation of the vessel ll is once more halted with the valve in the lowest position possible and, by grasping the lever and releasing the pawl 12 from engagement with the notch on the quadrant, the main sleeve 3| together with the inner sleeve 39 and its attachments are allowed to return to the position shown in Fig. 7 where the cap washer 16 and the flange i l of the cap l3 effectively seal off the vessel II.

The wing nut 82 together with the clamping screw 8| are now rotated to release the pressure exerted against the valve seat formed in the closed end 40 of the inner sleeve 39. As this is done the imprisoned pressure within the inner sleeve 39 will cause it to follow up movement of the clamping screw 8|. This movement of the inner sleeve 39 is allowed for a short distance so as to free the joint made by the washer 43, but as the closed end 40 contacts the abutment 9| formed on the bridge piece 11 this movement is arrested. Further rotation of the clamping screw 8| causes the conical valve face 84 to leave the valve seat 99 and the pressure imprisoned within the inner sleeve 39 then escapes through the hole 89, valve 84-9 and slot 81. As soon as the audible escape has closed and the inner seeve 39 is at atmospheric pressure the bridge piece ll is rotated enough to clear the catches Hi from engagement with the projection 19 leaving the inner sleeve 39 together with its attached bridge piece 11 free to be removed from within the main sleeve 3|.

The inner sleeve 33 is emptied of the samp e taken and replaced within the main sleeve 3|, the bridge piece is rotated to cause the catches 18 to again engage the projections 19 and the clamping screw 8| tightened to close valve 84-39 and the joint 43.

The valve is now again in the conditional position shown in Fig. 7 and the vessel H can continue rotation, and treatment of the material within proceed, until the next sample is required.

I claim:

1. A device for extracting samples of material from a closed vacuum or pressure vessel, comprising in combination: a cylindrical casing having at least one opening formed in one end portion thereof to provide a communicating passage from the exterior of said casing to the interior thereof;

a sleeve mounted within said casing and axially slidable therein from the other end thereof to close said communicating passage on axial movement in one direction and open said passage on axial movement in the other direction; a further sleeve mounted within the first said sleeve and formed with a closure Wall at the end thereof remote from said passage; means on the first said sleeve and said further sleeve for releasably securing said sleeves against relative axial movement; and valve means in the end wall of said further sleeve operable at will to open or close the interior of said further sleeve to atmosphere.

2. A device for extracting samples of material from a closed vacuum or pressure vessel, comprising in combination: a cylindrical casing closed at one end and formed with at least one port in the Wall thereof at said end; a sleeve mounted in said casing and axially slidable therein to open and close said port; a further sleeve sidably mounted in the first said sleeve, a closure Wall on said further Sleeve at the end thereof remotefrom said port; means on the first said sleeve and said further sleeve for releasably securing said sleeves against relative axial movement; and valve means in the end wall of said further sleeve for opening and closing said sleeve to atmosphere;

3. A device for extracting samples of material from a closed vacuum or pressure vessel, comprising in combination: a cylindrical casing closed at one end and formed With at least one port in the wall thereof at said end; a sleeve mounted in said casing and axially slidable therein to open and close said port; a further sleeve slidably mounted in the first said sleeve; a closure wall on said further sleeve at the end thereof remote from said port; means on the first said sleeve and said further sleeve for releasably securing said sleeves against relative axial movement; valve means in the end wall of said further sleeve for opening and closing said sleeve to atmosphere; lever mechanism mounted on said casing and connected with the first said sleeve for imparting axial movement to the first said sleeve; and means on said lever mechanism for securing said lever mechanism to hold the first said sleeve in either of two extreme positions of axial move-- ment thereof relative to Said casing.

4. A device for extracting samples of material from a closed vacuum or pressure vessel, comprising in combination: a cylindrical casing closed at one end am. formed with at least one port in the wall thereof at said end; a sleeve mounted in said casing and axially slidable therein to open and close said port; a further sleeve slidably mounted in the first said sleeve; a clo= sure Wall on said further sleeve at the end there of remote from said port; means on the first said sleeve and said further sleeve for releasably se curing said sleeves against relatiy'e axial mavement; valve means in the end wall of said further sleeve for opening and closing said sleeve to atmosphere; lever mechanism mounted on said casing and connected with the first said sleeve for imparting axial movement to the first said sleeve means on said lever mechanism for securing said mechanism to hold the first said sleeve in either of two extreme positions of axial movement relative to said casing; and a resiliently loaded platform freely slidable within said further sleeve arranged within the closed end thereof and urged towards the open end thereof.

5. A device for extracting samples of materialfrom a closed vacuum or pressure vessel, comprisingin combination: a cylindrical casing closed at one end and formed with at least one port in the wall thereof at said end; a sleeve mounted in said casing and axially slidable therein to open and close said port; a further sleeve slidably mounted in the first said sleeve; a closure wall on said further sleeve at the end thereof remote from said port; means on the first said sleeve and said further sleeve for releasably securing said sleeves against relative axial movement; valve means in the end wall of said further sleeve for opening and closing said sleeve to atmosphere; lever mechanism mounted on said casing and connected with the first said sleeve for imparting axial movement to the first said sleeve; means on said lever mechanism for securing said lever mechanism to hold the first said sleeve in either of two extreme positions of axial movement relative to sad casing; a resiliently loaded platform freely slidable within said further sleeve arranged Within the closed end thereof and urged towards the open end thereof; and means on said casing for securing said casing in the Wall of said vessel with the closed and thereof within the latter.

6. A device for extracting samples of material from a closed vacuum or pressure vessel comprising in combination: a cylindrical casing open at either end; a sleeve slidably arranged within said casing, said sleeve having at least one port formed in the wall thereof at one end of said sleeve; an end cap closing the end of said sleeve adjacent said port; a peripheral fiange formed on said end cap and arranged to seat on one end of said casing and seal the latter on axial movement of said sleeve to bring said port within said casing; a further sleeve slidably arranged within the first said sl eve, a closure wall at the end of said further sleeve remote from said port; valve means on the closure wall of said further sleeve for opening and closing said further sleeve to atmosphere; and means for releasably securing said sleeves against relative axial movement.

7. A device for extracting samples of material from a closed vacuum or pressure vessel comprising in combination: a cylindrical casing open at either end; a sleeve slidably arranged within said casing, said sleeve having at least one port formed in the wall thereof at one end of said sleeve; an end cap closing the end of said sleeve adjacent said port; a peripheral flange formed on said end cap and arranged to seat on one end of said casing and seal the latter on axial movement of said sleeve to bring said port with--' in said casing; a further sleeve slidably arranged within the first said sleeve; a closure wall at the end of said further sleeve remote from said port; valve means on the closure wall of said further sleeve for opening and closing said further sleeve to atmosphere; means for releasably' securing said sleeves against relative axial movement; and means on said cylindrical casing for secur ing said casing in the wall of said vessel with the end of said casing closable by said ported sleeve extending within said vessel.

8. A device for extracting samples of material from a closed vacuum or pressure vessel comprising in combination: a cylindrical casing open at either end; a sleeve slidably arranged within said casing, said sleeve having at least one port formed in the wall thereof at one end of said sleeve; an end cap closing the end of said sleeve adjacent said port; a peripheral flange formed on said end cap and arranged to seat on one end of said casing and seal the latter on axial movementof saidsleeve to bring said port within said casing; a further sleeve slidably arranged ing said lever mechanism to hold the first said within the first said sleeve; a closure wall at the sleeve in one extreme position of axial movement end of said further sleeve remote from said port; relative to said casing.

valve means on the closure wall of said further FRANCIS HERON ROGERS. sleeve for opening and closing said further sleeve 5 to atmosphere; means for releasably securing REFERENCES CITED said sleeves against relative axial movement; The follo i r f n e are of record in the means on said cylindrical casing for securing fil of this v said casing in the wall of said vessel with the end of said casing closable by said ported sleeve in UNITED STATES PATENTS extending within said vessel; lever mechanism Number Name Date arranged on said casing and connected to the 397,961 Bergmann Feb. 19, 1889 first said sleeve for imparting axial movement 1,735,390 Henderson Nov. 12, 1929 to the first said sleeve relative to said casing; 1,966,712 Fisher et a1. July 17, 1934 and means on said lever mechanism for securl5 2,451,704 Wood Oct. 19, 1948 

